Category: General Etiquette

Pet Protocol

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In Memory of
Bogie 'Woof' Nelson
2003-2012

Etiquette, Ethics and Empathy for Our Animal Friends

This past weekend, my family and I lost a beloved pet.  We had to make the difficult decision to euthanize our adorable, funny and affectionate male cat, Bogie – AKA Woof -- whose progressive disease finally left him crippled, in chronic pain and unable to walk without great difficulty, despite his medications, home therapy and tons of TLC.  But, in the midst of our grief we had the most extraordinary experience. 

Stand Up!

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Failure to Stand Could Mean a Failure to Succeed

Several years ago upon entering my daughter’s high school guidance office for an appointment, two male students and their belongings were sprawled and strewn across all the available seating.  They ignored me and continued to address each other as though no one else were present.  I almost asked them to remove their jackets, backpacks, books and other paraphernalia to make room for me to sit, but I was so fascinated by their behavior that I opted to wait and see if their manners would kick in.  They didn’t.    

Failure to stand on certain occasions can damage your brand. Just as people will remember a poor handshake, they will also recall if you failed to stand when meeting them.

The Three E’s Might Outweigh the Three R’s

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A Degree Is Not Enough

A study conducted by the Carnegie Institute of Technology has prompted a recent flurry of articles in Forbes and other news sources, websites and blogs. According to the study, 85% of a person’s financial success is due to his or her “personality and ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead,” and only 15% is due to “technical knowledge.” Although the study was apparently published in the 1970s, I’m happy to see it being discussed because these findings reinforce the need for business etiquette training to enable people to network effectively and build relationships. In other words, it supports the premise that the Three E’s – Etiquette, Ethics and Empathy in the Workplace – and Life – are just as important as, and might even outweigh, the Three R’s - Reading, writing and arithmetic. 

Prom Planning & Protocol – Part 3: Guys’ Guide

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Planning For a Night to Remember with Class and Style

The BOYS’ Guide 

For a guy on the brink of adulthood, prom can be an excellent showcase for your adult behavior.  It’s a time to demonstrate your sophistication, savvy and character, and an opportunity to impress your parents, teachers, classmates and especially that special person in your life with your social skills. 

Prom Planning & Protocol – Part 2: Gals’ Guide

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Planning For a Night to Remember with Class and Style

The GIRLS’ Guide

When shaping your image – or brand – everything you do, say, write and wear will affect how you appear to people and how they feel about you.  Prom is a major event in your life, and should be seen as an opportunity to make your debut as an adult rather than as your swan song as a wild and crazy kid.   For example, will you focus on the trendy, or will you zero in on style and class?  If the latter, read on!

Prom Planning & Protocol – Part 1: The Basics

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Planning For a Night to Remember with Class and Style

Proms are tricky.  On the one hand, you want to be a part of one of the milestones of your high school career; on the other, for your own reasons, maybe not.  One thing is certain: proms have changed over the years, and each generation will celebrate in its own way.  So, while it’s still the most popular choice to attend with a date, in many high schools across the country it’s also perfectly acceptable, and in some cases preferable, to attend prom with a group of friends rather than with a single date or – as a sign of our times – with a same-sex date or simply with a friend of either gender.  If you have decided that you don’t want to miss one of the time-honored experiences of a student’s life – your junior or senior prom – then there are some decisions and preparations to be made and some important points of protocol and etiquette of which to be aware.

Introductions Deconstructed (Rules and Exceptions) – Part 3: Awkward and Special Situations

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The Rules
(And their Exceptions)
Part Three of Three Entries


This three-part series winds up by focusing on those awkward, unusual, new and special situations.

Who’s that lady?

You’re on vacation with your parents and you see your basketball coach and his wife in your hotel courtyard.  Oh, how cute, they’re holding hands!  Your parents want to meet them, so you walk over only to discover that the woman with your coach is not his wife, to whom you were introduced at your school’s sports banquet last year. 

You say:

Introductions Deconstructed (Rules and Exceptions) – Part 2: Names

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The Rules
(And their Exceptions)
Part Two of Three Entries

    

 

Welcome back!  In Part Two of "Introductions Deconstructed," we'll focus on the importance of names in making introductions.

Saying and Remembering Names

Everyone enjoys hearing her name.  Thus, it’s important to pronounce names clearly when making introductions.  Don’t hesitate to ask someone to pronounce his name again; people are happy to ensure that their names will be pronounced correctly and don’t mind repeating their names or hearing their names repeated by someone else.  Westerners frequently experience difficulty in pronouncing Asian, African and Middle Eastern names and vice versa.  As a result, people whose names are difficult to pronounce in the country in which they live often adopt a nickname that people in their adopted country can understand.  It is in line with the tenants of etiquette to make every effort to pronounce one’s native name, but if a person is comfortable with his nickname, it is acceptable to use it in everyday, informal, language.  I’ll address this topic with respect to correspondence and formal invitations in a future entry. 

The Perfect Handshake

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It's Critical to Your Career!

Your job interview, prospective client, seat on a board or membership in an organization can be won or lost on the strength of your handshake. It can put you over the top or sink your chances. While this seemingly routine and innocuous little nicety lasts only a few seconds, it will be remembered forever.